Container construction



April 7, 1953 E. N. BURNETT 2,634,041

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 20, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN V EN TOR.

EDWARD N- BURNETT A r YTORNEYS April 7, 1953 E. N. BURNETT "CONTAINERCONSTRUCTION '2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 2Q, 1951 INVENTOR. EDWARD N.BURNETT BY ML 7- ATTORNEKS Patented Apr. 7, 1953 CONTAINER CONSTRUCTIONEdward N. Burnett, San Lorenzo, Calif., assignor to Gerber ProductsCompany, Fremont, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February20, 1951, Serial No. 211,871

7;0laims. (Cl. 229-23) This invention relates to new and useful'improvements in container construction, and more particularly, to acontainer construction formed of three or more box units assembled inline and each unit provided with mutually interlocking parts to permitthe individual box units to be locked together to form a unitary boxconstruction. Each individual box unit is formed from an integral blankof material, such as corrugated cardboard or the like. Reference is madeto my copending patent application Ser. No, 141,150, filed January 28,1950, on Container Construction, wherein is shown a containerconstruction comprising a pair of closed identically formed box unitseach provided with mutually interlocking parts to permit the twoindividual box units to be locked together to form a unitary boxconstruction.

The instant invention provides a container construction useful in theshipment of certain types of goods, particularly goods contained inrelatively small cans or bottles, such as baby foods, medicines and thelike. Such products may be packed in the individual box units, and theindividual units interlocked together so that a plurality of separatebox units may be shipped and handled together. When the box units,joined together as hereinafter set forth, are received by :a consignee,the interlocking members may be severed in order to permit separation ofthe individual units. Thereupon, each box unit becomes a separatecontainer which may be further transported or stored separate from otherunits of the assembly.

For example, a plurality of units of baby food or the like may be packedand interlocked together in accordance with the teachings of the instantinvention. The assembled unit may be shipped to a particular retailer.When the retailer desires to place a part of the shipment upon theshelves of the store, he may sever the first unit on either end bycutting the interlocking members. Thereupon, the severed unit may beopened and the contents placed on display in the usual manner. However,the remaining units remain intact and may be maintained in theiroriginal condition during prolonged storage. Later, the retailer maydesire to open the next unit inline, and, thereupon, he may sever thatunit from the remaining unit or units. The remaining units again areretained in original condition during storage.

Another important feature of the invention is the fact that the exposedsurfaces of the container construction are smooth and level for rapid:handling, The units are brought tight and securely together so thatthey do not separate upon handling,

The numerous other objects and advantages of a multiple container madeup of individual box units are set forth in my said copendingapplication, 'Ser. No. 141,150, filed January 28, 1950, for ContainerConstruction, to which reference has been made. It should be emphasized,however, that the instant improvement, which is the subject of thisapplication, augments the advantages of the previous application in thata greater number of units may be transported together.

The instant invention comprises two end units and one or more middleunits. Each end unit is constructed substantially identical with theunits described in my said application. Each middle unit is of difierentconstruction, as hereinafter set forth in detail.

The number of middle units employed in the completed box may be variedat the discretion of the shipper in that any reasonable number of middleunits may be added together. End units are formed from one style blankand middle units from another style blank, but in all other respects theunits may be filled, closed, and handled in the same manner.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawingsin which similar characters of reference represent corresponding partsin each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of four box units assembled in line to forma unitary box construction.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the structure. of Fig. 1, partiallyreduced in dimensions.

Fig. 3 is a plan of a blank for the formation of a middle unit.

Fig. 4 is a plan of a blank for the formation of an end unit.

As shown in Fig. l, the instant invention relates to a completed boxmade of a plurality of box units. Said box units may be three or more innumber and, when assembled, are disposed in a straight line. The endunits are designated A and B, and the two middle units, shown in Figs. 1and 2, as C and D.

Each end unit A and B comprises side panels 2|, 22, 23, and 24, themeeting edges of panels 22 and 23 being caused to abut and being joinedtogether by a strip of adhesive tape 26 or byany convenient means. Thetop of the box is closed by transversely extending inner top flaps 2'!and 28 which are formed integrally with panels 23 and 2|, respectively,and are folded downwardly along score line 29 so as to meetapproximately at the middle of the top of the box, and by overlyingouter top flaps 3| and 32, said top outer flaps being formed integrallywith panels 24 and 22, respectively, and folded downwardly on saidlongitudinal score line 29 so that they meet approximately at the centerof the top of the box. It will be understood that the bottom of the boxis similarly constructed.

Turning now to the construction of flap 3|, it will be seen that flap 3|is formed with a protruding tongue 33 which extends out beyond theoutline of panel 2|. A niche or recess 34 is cut into outer top flap 32,said niche being complementary in shape to the projecting tongue 33. Itwill be observed that the said construction of end units A and Bresembles the construction of units F and G illustrated in my saidapplication, Ser. No.'14l,l50, filed January 28, 1950.

Each of the middle units C and D is likewise identically formed butsomewhat different in construction from units A and B. Unit C is formedwith side panels 4|, 42, 43, and 44. At the common meeting edge ofpanels 4| and 44, said panels are joined together by a strip of adhesivetape 45 or the like. The top of unit C is closed by inner top flaps 4?and 48, which are formed integrally as extensions of side panels 4| and43. respectively, and folded downwardly along longitudinal score line 49so as to meet approximately at the center of the top of the box, and byouter top flaps 5| and 52, which are formed integrally and, asextensions of side panels 42 and 44, re-

spectively, are likewise folded downwardly along longitudinal score line42 to meet approximately at the center of the top of the box, overlyingthe inner top flaps 27 and 48. Outer top flap 5| is formed with a firstintegral projecting tongue 53 which extends out over the outline of sidepanel 23 and is also formed at the opposite edge with niche or recess 54complementary in shape to the protruding tongue 53. On the other hand,outer top flap 52 is formed with a protruding tongue 56 which extendsout beyond the outline of side panel 4|, or, in other words, in adirection opposite to that in which tongue 53 projects. Outer top flap52 also has a niche or recess 5! complementary in shape to tongue 56 atthe opposite side.

structed similar to the top.

Turning nowto Fig. 1, it will be seen that tongue 53 of unit C extendsinto and is received by recess 3 of unit A and that tongue 33 of unit Aextends into and is received by the complementary recess or niche 5? inflap 52 of unit C.

Unit D is identical in construction with unit C, and its protrudingtongue 56 is received in niche or recess 34 in flap 32 of unit B, andthe corresponding tongue 32 of flap 3| of unit B is received in niche 54of flap 5| of unit D.

Similarly, tongue 56 of unit is received in niche 571' of unit D andtongue 53 of unit D is received in niche 52 of unit C.

Since glue is applied to the undersurfaces ofall the outer flaps, saidouter top flaps are held, upon setting of the adhesive, against theinner flaps, which they overlie, and the tongues 33, 52, and

B are held against the exposed inner flaps, 38,

a? and 48, said exposure of the inner flaps being occasioned by thecutting out of niches 34, 54 and 52. Thus, the projecting tongues,fitting into the recesses of the adjacent box units, securely hold theadjacent units together. However, as is ap- It will be understood thatthe bottom of unit C is conparent, if a knife or other cutting tool isused to out between the box units and through the extending tongues, theadjacent units may be readily severed. After severing, the individualunits are complete containers for their contents.

Turning now to Fig. 4 which illustrates the blank of which units A and Bare constructed, it will be apparent that side panels 23, 24, 2i and 22,are disposed in consecutive order longitudinally of the blank.Transverse score lines 6|, E52, and 63 divide the various side panels asillustrated. Longitudinal score lines 29 and 64 define the longitudinaledges of the panels, and extending beyond each edge of each side panelis an end flap divided from its adjacent side panel by score line 29 or62 so that said top end flap or bottom end flap may be folded downwardlytherealong. Thus, in Fig. 4, the top flaps are in order: inner top flap2i which is rectangular and connected to side panel 23; outer top flap3| which is connected to side panel 24 and which is provided with aprojecting tongue 3| extending beyond the extension of transverse line62 in the direction opposite that of end flap'2'l. Said tongue 33 isformed by line 66 Which commences at the intersection of lines 62 and 29and is disposed at an angle of about 35 degrees with respect to theextension of line 62 and continues until its distance above theextension of line 62 is approximately one-half the length of panel 22and then projects outwardly until it intersects the outer margin of flap3:. The shape of tongue 33 is thus that of a truncated right triangle.The next flap 28 is generally rectangular in shape except that at thecorner thereof adjacent tongue 33, it is cut away in diagonal line 66 inorder to provide stock for the formation of tongue 33. The next flap 32in order is cut away at its edge adjacent fiap 23 in a shape exactlycomplementary to the projecting tongue 33 of flap 3| to form niche 3d.

The bottom flaps ll, 12, 13 and M are formed similarly to flaps 21, 3|,28 and 32, respectively, as best shown in Fig. 4.

It will thus be seen that by folding the blank shown in Fig. 4 in themanner which has been described, the outer edges of panels 22 and 3-3are brought together and held together by adhesive tape 26. Thereupon,flaps H, i3, 12 and i i are folded along line 64 to form the bottom ofthe box, and flaps 21, 23, 3|, and 32 are folded downwardly alonglongitudinal score line 29 to form the top .of the box, as has also beendescribed. Tongue 33 projects outwardly at the top of the box and tongue33a also projects outwardly at the bottom of the box. Niches or recesses34 and 34a are formed by reason of the cutting away of panels 32 and 14.

The blank fromwhich the middle unit C is formed is illustrated in Fig.3. It will be seen that in consecutive order said middle unit is formedof side panels 4|, 42, 43, and M which are separated from one another bytransverse score lines 8|, 82 and 83. The edges of said side panels aredefined by longitudinally extending score lines 84 and 49 which separatethe side panels from the adjacent end flaps which are folded down alongsaid longitudinal score lines.

The end flaps for the formation of the top of the box, proceeding frombottom to top as shown in Fig. 3, are rectangular inner end flap 4?,which is connected to side panel 4|, and outer top flap 5|, which is cutaway as indicated by reference numeral 52 in a shape complementary tothe projecting tongue 53 of flap 5| shown in Fig. 4 at the edge adjacentflap 4'! and which further is provided with projecting tongue 53 in theopposite edge of identical shape with tongue 33 of flap 3| of the blankshown in Fig. 4. The next fiap 48 in order is generally rectangular inshape except that it is cut away at the edge of adjacent flap 5| inorder to provide the stock for the projecting tongue 53 of flap 5|. Thefinal flap 52 in order is identical in construction with flap 51, beingprovided with tongue 55 and niche 51.

The bottom of the middle unit C is formed similarly to the top flaps asshown in Fig. 3 by the provision of flaps 9|, 92, 93, and 94 shaped tocorrespond to flaps 47, 5|, G8 and 52, respectively. Further tongues 53aand 55a are formed on flaps 92 and 94, respectively, and niches 54a and51a on flaps 92 and 9 respectively.

Assembly of the middle unit-s is accomplished by bending the blank alongscore lines 8|, 82, and 83 until the meeting edges of panels 4| and 44are brought together and are held securely by a strip of adhesive tape46 or other conven ient means. Thereupon, the bottom fiaps 9|, 93, 92,and 94 are folded downwardly along longitudinal score line 84 and thetop flaps 41, 48, 5| and 52 are also folded downwardly along thelongitudinal score line d9. Inner flaps 41 and 48 meet along the centerof the box and are overlaid by outer fiaps 5| and 52, at the top. Thebottom of the box is similarly formed.

It will be understood that adhesive such as glue has been applied to theundersurfaces of flaps 5|, 52, 92 and 94, and accordingly, upon theirbeing folded downwardly, they adhere to the inner fiaps 21, 28, 9| and93 which are underneath. Tongues 53, 56, 53a and 56a are alsoprovided'with glue on their undersides and adhere to the inner flapswhere exposed by cutting away of niches.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made Withinthe spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

.1. A box adapted for interlocking with two complementary box units ateither end thereof to form a unitary box construction of at least threeunits in line, said box unit comprising a hollow rectangularparallelepiped container, and four flaps constituting extensions of sidemembers of said container and closing the top thereof, a first, innertop, flap of substantially rectangular shape folded downwardly from atransversely extending side edge to substantially half the width of thebox, a second, outer top, flap folded downwardly from a longitudinalextending side edge to substantially half the width of the box having afirst projecting tongue extending beyond the confines of said containerin one direction and a first cut-out portion dimensioned and positionedto receive the projecting tongues of a complementary box unit, a third,inner top, fiap folded downwardly from the other transversely extendingside edge to substantially half the width of the box and adjacent saidfirst flap of generally rectangular shape but with one corner cut awayto provide stock for said first tongue and a fourth, outer top, flapfolded downwardly from the other longitudinally extending side edge tosubstantially half the width of the box and adjacent said second flaphaving a second projecting tongue extending beyond the confines of saidcontainer in a direction opposite said first tongue and a second cut-outportion dimensioned and positioned to receive the projecting tongue of asecond complementary box unit.

2. A box unit as defined in claim 1 and wherein the sides of saidcontainer unit are joined along one side edge thereof, said fourth fiapconstituting an extension of one of the sides of said container unitjoined at said side edge and said second flap constituting an extensionof the side of said container opposite said last mentioned side.

3. A blank for a middle container unit of the character describedcomprising, four rectangular central panels, alternate panels beingsubstantially equally-dimensioned, all of said panels having common sideedges, each of said central panels having an integral fiap projectingbeyond each side edge, the flaps above one side edge being inconsecutive order, a first fiap rectangular in shape, a second flaphaving a first projecting tongue extending upwardly at an angle awayfrom said first flap and also having a first cut away corner adjacentsaid first fiapcut away in the same shape as said first tongue, a thirdflap generally rectangular but cutaway to provide stock for said firsttongue, and a fourth flap similar in construction to said second flap.

4. A blank as defined in claim 3 and wherein the four fiaps along theother side of said blank are formed in the same manner as the four flapsalong the first side of said blank.

5. In a plural-unit box construction of at least three container unitsin line, the combination of a first end container unit at one end ofsaid box construction, a second end container unit at the opposite endof said box construction and at least one middle unit disposed betweensaid end units. each of said units comprising a hollow, rectangularparallelepiped container and having top and bottom inner closure halffiaps and top and bottom outer closure half flaps folded at right anglesinwardly from and constituting extensions of sides of said units, onetop outer flap of each unit having an integral projecting tongueextending beyond the confines of its unit, one top outer flap of eachunit having a cut-out portion dimensioned and positioned to receive theprojecting tongue of a complementary box unit,,and in which in eachmiddle unit each top outer flap has both a tongue and a cut-out portion,the tongue of one top outer flap extending in a direction opposite thetongue of the other top outer flap.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which the four bottom flaps of eachunit are formed in the same manner as the four top flaps of the sameunit.

'7. The combination of claim 5 in which there are at least two middleunits, each identical in construction and mutually interchangeable.

EDWARD N. BURNETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,413,108 Dyer Apr. 18, 19222,329,628 Lanigan Sept. 14, 1943 2,456,059 Grupe Dec. 14, 1948

